I keep seeing the phrase “digital dementia” being used around children and screen time.
It’s a dramatic phrase, and I’ll be honest — it’s not one I’d choose myself.
It feels too stark, and childhood, technology and parenting are far more complicated than that.
But I do think it points towards something many of us are feeling.
Children are growing up surrounded by constant stimulation.
Scrolling.
Noise.
Notifications.
Videos.
Interruptions.
Instant entertainment.
And I think we’re starting to see the impact of that in everyday life.
Shorter attention spans.
Less conversation.
Poorer sleep.
Less movement.
Less tolerance for boredom.
More dysregulation.
That doesn’t mean all screen use is harmful. Some digital experiences are brilliant, useful and creative.
But I do think we need to be more honest about the difference between helpful digital experiences and endless, fast, passive consumption.
Maybe the question isn’t, “Are screens bad?”
Maybe it’s, “What are screens replacing?”
Because childhood still needs the same things it always has:
Play.
Movement.
Rest.
Conversation.
Relationships.
Fresh air.
Time to think.
Time to be bored.
That part hasn’t changed.
I grew up in the 80s, when children seemed to have a bit more freedom to play, take risks, work things out, build friendships and develop resilience through everyday childhood.
I really want that for my own daughter.
But I’ll be honest — some days it feels like a daily tug of war with technology.
I don’t have the perfect answer. I don’t think many of us do.
But I do think small choices at home matter.
Limiting tech time.
Insisting on outside time.
Encouraging outdoor play.
Keeping tech away from the table.
Making space for movement, conversation and proper rest.
I can’t fix the whole thing.
But I can try to be a thoughtful, responsible parent in my own home.
And right now, that feels like a good place to start.
Imogen x
#Parenting #ScreenTime #ChildWellbeing #Children #MovementMatters #OutdoorPlay #FamilyLife #PrimaryEducation
This is why we continue to do what we do 💛
Every lovely review, every kind message, every bit of feedback from a teacher reminds us why imoves matters.
Because behind every lesson plan, video and piece of music is a teacher trying to give their children the best possible experience.
More confidence.
More movement.
More joy.
More moments where children feel able to join in, have a go and shine ✨
Thank you to Christine for such a lovely review. It honestly means so much.
#PrimarySchools #PrimaryPE #PrimaryDance #TeacherSupport #ActiveSchools #MovementMatters
School budgets are under huge pressure, but the need to help children move more has not gone away.
That’s why we’ve created the 10 in 10 Active Challenge - a free, whole-school fundraising challenge to help schools raise money towards an imoves subscription.
The concept is simple:
⏱️ 10 minutes of higher-energy movement
📅 Every school day
🔟 For 10 school days
Schools can use the challenge to get children moving, involve families and local businesses, and raise funds towards Active Blasts, PE or Active Schools.
The free pack includes:
💜 a ready-made challenge plan
💜 movement burst access
💜 extra activity ideas
💜 cut-and-paste sponsorship templates
For schools that want to keep daily movement going, but are struggling with budgets, this is a practical and positive way to make it possible.
Download the fundraising pack here:
/fundraise-for-imoves-sub
#PrimarySchools #ActiveSchools #SchoolFundraising #PrimaryPE #ChildWellbeing #MovementMatters
Some children don’t need another reminder to sit still.
They need a chance to move.
We’ve been thinking a lot about this after reading the Centre for Social Justice’s new report, Inactive Nation.
The report looks at children’s physical inactivity and how it connects to much bigger things than sport.
Things like:
• focus
• mood
• confidence
• wellbeing
• physical development
• screen time
• behaviour
• feeling ready to learn
Teachers see this every day.
Children who are tired.
Children who are restless.
Children who find it hard to settle.
Children who need a reset before they can get back to learning.
Movement isn’t a magic wand, of course.
But a few minutes of movement can completely change the energy in a classroom.
That’s why we’re so passionate about helping schools build simple movement moments into the day.
Not as another pressure.
Just as a practical way to help children move, reset, refocus and feel good.
Read the full report here:
.uk/library/inactive-nation
#PrimarySchools #ActiveSchools #ChildWellbeing #Behaviour #MovementMatters
This is what an active classroom can look like.
A few minutes of movement.
A room full of smiles.
Children resetting, re-energising and coming back ready to learn.
It might look like “just a bit of fun” — and yes, it absolutely is fun.
But short, purposeful movement breaks like this can do so much more.
They can help children:
🍎 refocus
🍌 lift their mood
🍓 shake off the fidgets
🍊 regulate their energy
🍇 feel more ready for learning
That’s why we love Active Blasts.
They’re quick, easy to use and designed to help teachers bring more movement into the school day without extra planning or pressure.
Movement doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes, it just needs to be a few joyful minutes that help everyone reset.
Start your free 28-day trial here:
/imoves-activeblasts
#ActiveBlasts #PrimarySchools #ActiveClassrooms #MovementMatters #PrimaryTeachers #ChildWellbeing #ActiveLearning
👀 Been meaning to take a look at the imoves Teacher Sub?
Now’s a great time!
There’s so much included this month:
• Themed resources
• Wellbeing support
• SATs help
• Dance
• Active Blasts
• CPD
Plenty to use straight away.
Plenty to support both teachers and children.
And you can try it free for 1 month.
A very easy 'Yes'.
👉 Sign up here - /1-month-free
This headline really stopped and made us think!
English children are now more likely to own a phone than be able to throw a ball.
It comes from the Centre for Social Justice’s new report, Inactive Nation, which looks at children’s physical inactivity in England.
And we’re really proud that imoves has been included as a case study.
But what matters most is the message behind the report.
This isn’t just about PE.
It’s about children’s wellbeing, confidence, focus, emotional regulation, screen time, play, and how many chances they get to move during the school day.
And teachers already know this.
You see it in classrooms every day.
Children need movement to help them focus.
They need movement to help them regulate.
They need movement to help them feel confident in their own bodies.
They need movement because childhood was never meant to be still.
That’s why imoves exists.
Not to add more pressure to schools.
But to make movement easier to build into the day — in the classroom, hall, playground or wherever learning is happening.
We’re proud to be recognised in the report as one practical way schools can help children move more.
Most of all, we hope it helps keep this conversation going.
Children need more chances to move.
Teachers need support that makes that feel possible.
Read the full report here:
.uk/library/inactive-nation
(link in the bio)
#InactiveNation #PrimarySchools #ActiveSchools #PrimaryPE #ChildWellbeing #MovementMatters
To all the Year 6 children starting SATs this week…
You’ve got this.
And to all the parents and teachers who have supported, encouraged, reassured, revised, repeated, reminded and gently kept everyone going — you’ve got this too.
SATs week can feel like a big moment, but it is not the whole story.
Children are so much more than a test paper.
They are kind, funny, creative, curious, brave, thoughtful and full of potential in ways that can never be measured in one week.
So this week, try to breathe.
Take little breaks.
Get outside when you can.
Move your body.
Drink some water.
Have a proper rest.
Be kind to yourself.
And remember that doing your best is enough.
To every Year 6 child walking into school this week, we’re cheering you on.
Not just for your answers.
But for your resilience, your effort, your courage and the brilliant person you already are.
Good luck Year 6 — you’re already amazing.
Imogen x
#SATsWeek #Year6 #PrimarySchools #PrimaryTeachers #ChildWellbeing #Resilience #TeacherSupport
Teaching dance can feel daunting.
Especially if you don’t see yourself as a “dance person”.
But primary dance doesn’t need to be scary, complicated or full of pressure. With the right support, it can be creative, active, joyful and much easier to deliver than you might think.
Our Teaching Primary Dance Online CPD Course is designed to help teachers build confidence step by step.
You’ll learn how to:
✨ use music, rhythm and beat with confidence
✨ understand simple movement principles
✨ build dance lessons without overcomplicating things
✨ adapt activities for different ages and abilities
✨ support progression, planning and assessment
✨ feel more confident delivering dance in your own way
The course is 100% online, with short videos, practical examples, reflection tasks and ready-to-use support.
And once completed, you can download your certificate too.
So if dance is one of those areas that makes you think, “I’m not sure where to start…” - this is exactly what the course is here for.
Find out more here:
/
#PrimaryDance #PrimaryPE #TeacherCPD #DanceInSchools #PrimaryTeachers #TeacherConfidence
We’ve got a funny thing going on in schools - and probably in society too.
We often treat stillness like something to aim for.
“Good sitting.”
“Hands still.”
“Stop fidgeting.”
“Stay on the carpet.”
And movement? That can sometimes feel like something to manage.
But then we wonder why children are wriggly, distracted, unsettled or running out of steam by mid-afternoon.
A lot of what we call “poor behaviour” can simply be children trying to regulate themselves.
They’re not built to sit still for long stretches of the day. Their bodies aren’t “playing up” - they’re communicating.
And often the message is really simple:
I need to move so I can think.
I need to move so I can cope.
I need to move so I can learn.
This is something I keep coming back to, especially as a parent.
My own daughter talks about how much of the school day is spent being still, and then how little freedom there sometimes is to properly play when children do get outside.
No tig.
No kicking a ball.
Rules around climbing, running, chasing and even how many children can use the equipment at once.
And I do understand why. Of course we want children to be safe. We all do.
But children also need to move.
They need to run, climb, chase, balance, skip, swing, play, fall over sometimes, get back up again and learn how their bodies work in the real world.
Movement isn’t a distraction from learning. It helps children access learning.
When children have regular chances to move, even in small ways, they are often more focused, more settled and much more ready to learn.
And it helps teachers too.
Because when movement is built into the school day through short bursts, active transitions and little reset moments, it takes some of the pressure off constantly asking children to be still.
Maybe the answer isn’t always more control.
Maybe it’s a little more movement.
I’d genuinely love to know if other parents and teachers feel the same. Does childhood sometimes feel more restricted than it needs to be?
Imogen x
#PrimaryEducation #ChildWellbeing #ActiveSchools #TeacherWellbeing #Behaviour #PlayMatters #MovementMatters #SchoolLife
The best bit about the Teacher Sub? 👇
It’s not just one-off themed resources - each month you also get:
• Active Blasts
• Teacher wellbeing support
• CPD resources
So whether you need a quick movement break, a themed activity or a confidence boost — it’s there.
👉 Try it free for 1 month and see what works best for your school.:
/1-month-free
Here’s a little peek at SportsJam - one of the fun resources inside imoves PE.
It’s designed to get children moving and building confidence through simple, engaging activities that teachers can pick up and deliver with little preparation.
Perfect for adding more energy, variety and enjoyment into PE lessons.
You can find out more about imoves PE here:
/imoves-peplus
#PrimaryPE #PrimarySchools #ActiveSchools #SchoolSport #PELessons #TeacherSupport #MovementMatters
